carry passengers."

"That's very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as this,
that you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will appear as a
witness against one of you; it were most ungrateful if I did. While I
am on board, I will do any duty you please to put me to, for I cannot
expect to eat my bread for nothing."

"And suppose we come to action?"

"There's the difficulty," replied I; "against an English ship I never
will fight."

"But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a chance of
our being overpowered?"

"Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be hung along with the
rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own life; but,
overpowered or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutlass against
my own countrymen."

"Well, I cannot deny but that's all very fair."

"I think," replied I, "it is as much as you can expect; especially as
I never will share any prize-money."

"Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but, now,
answer me one question--Are you not a seaman?"

"I will answer the truth to every thing; I am a seaman, and I have
commanded a privateer. I have served many years in privateers, and
have seen a great deal of hard fighting."

"So I thought," replied he; "and now answer me another question,--Was
it not you that played that trick to that French privateer captain at
Bordeaux?"

"Yes it was," replied I; "but how came you to know that?"

"Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been captured,
and I saw you three or four times as you passed the vessel I was on
board of; for, being put in quarantine, we were not sent to prison
till the pratique was given. I thought that I knew you again."

"Well; I have no concealment to make."

"No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew all this,
would not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you might be captain
if you pleased, for I do not suit them. Our captain--for I was his
officer--was killed about six months ago; and I really am not fit for
the office--I am too tender-hearted."

"Well; you don't look so," replied I, laughing.

"Can't judge of outsides," replied he; "but it's a fact. They say that
they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews
of the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against
them; and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad
enough; I rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must
ki